Death toll from Venezuela earthquakes surpasses 1,700

Five days after severe earthquakes struck Venezuela, the death toll has reached over 1,700 and could still rise, with many survivors needing humanitarian assistance, according to the UN. Rescue operations are ongoing after two earthquakes with a magnitude of over 7 struck Venezuela last Wednesday. National Assembly Speaker Jorge Rodríguez said on Monday that the death toll had risen to 1,719. According to the UN, over 2,200 rescuers from 27 countries have been sent to Venezuela. They are assisting local authorities in searching for people trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings amid ongoing aftershocks. "At least over 2,500 buildings have been affected, and most of them have completely collapsed," a UN representative in Venezuela said on Monday. "We are now collecting 10,000 body bags in agreement with local authorities," he added. Officials said seven people were rescued alive on Sunday, after more than 72 hours had passed, beyond which the chances of survival are considered to significantly decrease. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has stated that approximately 1.8 million people, including 680,000 children, are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.